Velenkosini Hlabisa, leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), stressed that mature leadership is essential for the success of coalition governments in South Africa. Speaking at an IFP rally at Esikhawini stadium near Richards Bay in the uMhlathuze Municipality on 24 October 2026, Hlabisa pointed to the municipality’s IFP-led coalition as a model of stability and service delivery.
“We have seen throughout South Africa failing coalition government weakening service delivery but Umhlathuze is a typical example which we are going to use as a model case that it is not always true that coalitions are a failure. If you deploy matured people in a coalition government they can sustain coalition,” Hlabisa said, according to an SABC News report.
The uMhlathuze Municipality is governed by an IFP-led coalition, underscoring the party’s reputation as a capable coalition partner. A 2026 report by Mistra affirmed the IFP’s effectiveness, noting the party led 30 out of the 40 coalition administrations it participated in, anchoring each of these governments.
Hlabisa has previously made similar remarks, emphasising the need for principled and mature leaders to maintain coalition stability. Speaking during Gauteng cabinet negotiations in July 2024, he said, “What works in a coalition government is to have principled leaders. When they agree to work together, they don’t need a legal document to bind them, but the principle of working together is what keeps them together for the next five years.”
Political analysts have echoed the call for maturity in coalition governance. Prof. André Duvenhage highlighted the challenge of navigating fundamentally opposing ideological systems within coalitions. He said, “There are fundamentally opposing ideological systems at work, and when we argue for coalitions, we expect these groupings to work together despite having different worldviews and ideological points of departure.”
Dr Harlan Cloete added, “We need political maturity from the two biggest losers to say, let’s put South Africa first,” underscoring the need for cooperation beyond party politics.
The growing prevalence of coalition governments in South African municipalities often brings challenges such as delayed budgets and service delivery blocks. Hlabisa’s comments, backed by Mistra’s research and expert opinion, suggest that mature and principled leadership can mitigate these issues, fostering stable governance focused on residents’ needs.
While Hlabisa’s remarks and the Mistra report highlight successes like uMhlathuze, it remains unverified whether this model is universally applicable across all coalitions or if mature leadership alone resolves the complexities of coalition governance nationwide.
Cape Flats News will monitor developments within coalition governments and leadership approaches, especially as South Africa prepares for upcoming elections that may increase coalition formations.